Major League Soccer announces 2013 Houston Dynamo schedule

Major League Soccer announced the 2013 league schedule on Wednesday, including the Houston Dynamo’s 34-game slate for its eighth season in Houston. The Dynamo will play 17 regular season home games in addition to at least three CONCACAF Champions League matches.

The 2012 Eastern Conference champions open their season on Saturday, March 2 with a rematch of the 2012 Eastern Conference Championship against D.C. United at 7 p.m. at BBVA Compass Stadium. The match will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

“We faced a very tough schedule in 2012 due to the stadium opening in May,” said Dynamo president Chris Canetti. “This year is a much better situation, and I am very pleased with the schedule. It is more balanced with games spread out over time and fewer mid-summer dates. I think it works well for the team and the fans.”

The Dynamo carry a 25-game regular season home unbeaten streak (30 games in all competitions) into 2013, the second-longest streak in league history.

Houston will be featured on national television 13 times in 2013; including three games on the NBC Sports Network, three games on ESPN2, one match on ESPN, five matches on UniMás (Spanish), and the Oct. 27 season finale at D.C. United on NBC.

The home schedule includes two games with Eastern Conference rival Sporting Kansas City (May 12 and Oct. 9) and two games against the New York Red Bulls (Sept. 8 and Oct. 20). Another 2012 Eastern Conference playoff team, the Chicago Fire, will visit Houston twice in 2013 (April 14 and July 27).

The 2013 BBVA Compass Stadium home schedule also features the 2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield winning San Jose Earthquakes (March 30). The home slate also includes the following Western Conference opponents: Vancouver Whitecaps, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders and Chivas USA.

The Dynamo will conclude the home schedule with a three-game homestand against Eastern Conference foes – Oct. 4 vs. Montreal, Oct. 9 vs. Kansas City and Oct. 20 vs. New York – before the season finale at D.C. United on Oct. 27.

Major League Soccer will continue to play an unbalanced schedule in 2013. The Dynamo will play each Western Conference team once, seven Eastern Conference teams three times and two Eastern Conference teams (Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union) twice.

While single game tickets are not yet available, fans can purchase tickets to all games via Dynamo season tickets, with 10-game and 5-game plans also available. Full season ticket packages are as low as $400, with partial season ticket packages starting at $115. In addition, the Dynamo are offering a new Family Season Ticket Package for the 2013 season. For every full price adult season ticket purchased for $400, you can purchase an additional season ticket for a child 10 years or younger for just $200, located in the Texas Children’s Health Plan Family Section. There are a limited number of seats allocated for this program. To purchase your package or for more information on 2013 season tickets, call (713) 276-GOAL.